Meanings
nounelastin (countable and uncountable, plural elastins)
plural elastins
- countableuncountablebiochemistryA protein, similar to collagen, found in connective tissue, that has elastic properties.
Our stomachs produce an enzyme specifically designed to break down elastin, a type of protein found in meat and nowhere else.
2006, Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma, The Penguin Press, →ISBN, page 289
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁elh₂-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁l̥h₂-tós
- Ancient Greekἐλᾰστός (elăstós)
- New Latinelasticu
- Frenchélastique
- Englishelastic
- Englishelastin
Translations
French élastine
- élastineprotein with elastic properties, similar to collagen
Greek ελαστίνη
- ελαστίνη (elastíni)protein with elastic properties, similar to collagen
Hindi प्रत्यास्थि
- प्रत्यास्थि (pratyāsthi)protein with elastic properties, similar to collagen
Italian elastina
- elastinaprotein with elastic properties, similar to collagen
Spanish elastina
- elastinaprotein with elastic properties, similar to collagen
Swahili elastini
- elastiniprotein with elastic properties, similar to collagen
Swedish elastin
- elastinprotein with elastic properties, similar to collagen
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
elastin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elastin
MLA
“elastin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elastin. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “elastin,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elastin.
Source: elastin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.